Anyone lucky enough to get their hands on a PS5 will agree that, along with its super-fast SSD, the DualSense controller is one of the console's best features.
Even though Sony's PS5 DualSense pushes the limits of modern gamepads to a whole new level, it still has some hiccups that could have been fixed with a higher-end model.
While Sony still refuses to play ball, we've rounded up several reasons why we think a PS5 pro controller would make sense. Maybe, just maybe, we can manifest one ourselves.
DualSense battery life could be improved
Since the launch of the PS5, the DualSense gamepad has been considered one of the best gaming controllers around, even winning an online poll as part of the recent BAFTA Games Awards.
And it's easy to see why it's so popular when you take a closer look at the features that make up the generation gap between PS4's DualSense and DualShock 4.
The BEST CONTROLLER TOURNAMENT (our friendly competition!) is over, and you've decided the ultimate winner with the DualSense taking the crown 🥇🎮Reminder: You can watch the #BAFTAGames Awards on April 7, 2022 on all major social media and online platforms🏆 pic.twitter.com/wGH5zKdosIMMarch 27, 2022
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We've said it before and we'll say it until we're blue: the inclusion of haptic feedback and adaptive triggers in the DualSense controller has been one of the highlights of the last generation of gaming consoles.
But the PS5 controller isn't perfect, and it has its fair share of flaws. One of the biggest issues PlayStation gamers currently have is having to deal with the DualSense's lackluster battery life, which varies wildly between six and 12 hours of playtime. Frustratingly, it also appears that the aforementioned adaptive triggers and haptic feedback have the biggest impact on controller battery life.
While you do have the option to disable adaptive triggers and haptic feedback, or at least reduce their intensity, it's a shame you have to resort to depriving yourself of one of the best parts of gaming on a PS5 just to get a little more juice. when playing.
The market wants a PS5 Pro controller
Since Sony still seems reluctant to make a Pro version of its DualSense controller, third-party manufacturer Scuf has stepped in to save the day. At the moment, Scuf offers PlayStation gamers a choice of three gamepads: Scuf Reflex, Reflex Pro, and Reflex FPS, all with slightly different specs.
And despite its relatively high cost of $199.99 / $229.99 / $259.99, the Scuf PS5 pro controller proves that there is a huge demand for a premium PS5 controller. So much so that all three variants of Scuf's gamepads were sold out and are still out of stock nearly a month after their initial release.
Scuf's three PS5 pro controllers include remappable paddles and swappable thumbsticks. This gives gamers more flexibility in terms of reassigning key actions to different button inputs to best suit their style of play.
Considering the price and appeal of Scuf gamepads, it's obvious that if it were ever to come out, it's unlikely that a PlayStation-branded elite controller would be aimed at the average console gamer. Instead, it would target a smaller, more dedicated slice of PS5 owners who play online first-person shooters like Call of Duty: Warzone or Destiny 2, where upgraded hardware can give gamers a competitive edge.
However, if you're like me and spend most of your time playing story-based games like Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga or Resident Evil: Village, you probably don't need a PS5 Pro controller. . Still, I wouldn't say no to a controller that has a longer battery life than the original DualSense and offers more flexibility.
Xbox has had pro pads for years
Parents and teachers spend much of our childhood telling ourselves that just because someone else does something doesn't mean you have to do it yourself. While that's generally good advice when it comes to cliff jumping, in this scenario I couldn't disagree more.
Microsoft's original Xbox Elite Wireless Controller and its successor have been around for years and are proof that console gamers want an upgrade from the original gamepad, even if it costs more.
In our Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 review, we mentioned how it offers users a heavier design focused on customization down to the system level. This means Xbox owners can freely adjust everything from stick sensitivity to vibration and brightness, plus four additional back buttons to remap various actions.
While it might seem like a challenge to build more on top of the already excellent DualSense controller, I don't think it's too far-fetched to ask for an official pro-level PS5 controller from Sony that offers the same level of customizations as the Xbox Elite controller. .
In all honesty, it's not clear why Sony won't follow suit, as many of the biggest PlayStation games are competitive online games. While the release of the admittedly clunky DualShock 4 back button accessory for the PS4 was better late than never, it's not currently compatible with the PS5. A PS5 version of this peripheral would be at least a step in the right direction, at least until Sony decides to hopefully create its own professional pad.